Investigaciones geográficas

versão impressa ISSN 0188-4611

Resumo

This paper discusses the relevance of normative approaches to define and measure the social dimension of vulnerability, from an initial critique to the notion of resilience. From a critical realist perspective, the paper assesses the applicability of the notion of resilience in vulnerability studies, and proposes a conceptual and methodological alternative based on normative, objective well-being approaches. The paper also discusses in depth the main methodological issues that are necessary to clarify for making this proposal operative. The core elements of the methodology are well-being thresholds and weights, which are taken as the reference point to measure the potentially negative effects on well-being in a situation of vulnerability to different hazards.